I find no sweeter fat than sticks to my own bones.
–Walt Whitman
A few days ago, we looked at why we should not give up on animal fat. Specifically, five reasons. We go now to reasons six and seven.
Month: April 2014
Ask Fatty Felicity
Welcome to Ask Fatty Felicity, the write-in column where you get to ask all your burning questions about Fat, Diet, and the Meaning of Life! Let’s get right to today’s burning questions, shall we?
Fatty Felicity, what a lovely name. Is it in reference to your personal tonnage statistics?
–Jenny
Thank you, Jenny. In fact, I’ve taken this name in reference to my favorite food group, fat. Contrary to popular expectation, increasing my daily fat intake from around 30 grams a day to 200 and switching from “heart-healthy” oils to saturated fats like coconut oil and butter has been very good for me. It has helped me lose 145 pounds, put on muscle, and improve all my markers for good health–from cholesterol levels to blood pressure.
Fatty Felicity, I’m in a quandry. I’ve been invited to a friend’s party and I think the only things to eat will be nachos and pizza. Should I take up a life of monasticism?
–Artimus
Artimus, Artimus. Let’s leave the extremes for the vegans, shall we? There’s no reason to avoid people or parties. Here’s some handy tips for you, though:
Don’t Give Up The Fat!
The rate of cardiovascular disease suffered by both rural and urban Chinese males is almost indistinguishable from the rate experienced by American males, while the rates…for both rural and urban Chinese women is significantly higher than those suffered by American females….The notion that the Chinese don’t have disease of the heart…is what we like to call a vampire myth–it simply refuses to die.
–Drs. Michael and Mary Dan Eades
They go on to explain that part of the issue leading to confusion is that heart disease normally manifests as stroke in the Chinese, but as heart attack in Americans. A city-dwelling Chinese man only has half the heart attack risk of his American comrade–but six times the stroke risk. The underlying cause is exactly the same: coronary heart disease.
The Hamster Wheel–Specifics
When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no “I’ll start tomorrow.” Tomorrow is disease.
– V.L. Allinear
In the last post we talked about the book Body by Science. If you read it or are thinking about doing so, you might be left with one last question:
“That all sounds great, and in an ideal world, sure, I’d like to have plenty of protective muscle. But come on. I have this thing. It’s called a life. I have a/three job/s, kids, church, PTA. EVERYONE knows that exercising is good, but in the real world there’s just no time.”
I had that same thought early on in the book. I mean, “everyone knows” that to gain much of any muscle you’re going to have to spend time at the gym and spend money and really,…good grief. I’ve got more urgent things I need to do.
But that’s not at all necessary.
Continue reading The Hamster Wheel–Specifics
The Hamster Wheel
It is not by muscle, speed or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, force of character, and judgment.
–Cicero
A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about the book Body by Science. When I first started eating differently, I followed the advice I still believe: eat right first. Then you’ll feel better and start losing some weight, and then you’ll have interest and energy for exercise. Exercise is not your primary or first weight loss tool.
But now I do feel good, and this book was recommended by several people whose opinions in these areas I respect. I read it and started putting into practice. I haven’t discussed it till now because I wanted to give you some results to go with it. Those will come in Post #2.
What’s In Your Fridge
May your phone never run out of battery and your refrigerator never run out of food.
–Ancient Cathodic Blessing
Here’s what’s in mine after a month’s meat order arrived and two weeks of grocery stocking:
- Coconut milk–1 gallon
- Mascarpone–2 pounds
- Creme Fraiche–35 ounces
- Greek yogurt–25 ounces
- Coconut oil–.5 quarts
- Soda water–10-15 cans
- Eggs–94
- Bacon–4 1/2 pounds
- Beef in steak, ground and roast forms–22 pounds
- Leg of lamb–5 pounds
- Chickens–8.3 pounds
- Goat’s cheese–2 pounds
- Cow’s cheese (different kinds)–2 pounds
- MCT oil–20 ounces
- Butter, salted and unsalted–3.5 pounds
- Lettuce
- Onions
- Bell peppers
- Mint
- Tomato
- Cilantro
- Cucumbers
- Strawberries
- Dill pickles
- Pepperocinis
- Apples
- Coconut–a
- Lemons–many, many lemons
I’ll also be eating some chocolate, some pecans, some macadamia nuts, a little peanut butter, cocoa powder, and the occasional raisin. But what’s in the fridge is pretty much it.
Continue reading What’s In Your Fridge
Reading For Fun and Profit
Literature is a textually transmitted disease, normally contracted in childhood.
― Jane Yolen
It’s not actually books I have to recommend to you today, but interesting news in the world of science and nutrition. I’ve been sick, you’ve been sick, we’re all busy. So when you have a few minutes to relax, have a look at these and see what analysis you come up with. I’ve given mine, naturally.
- Ancient Greek athlete training diet. I found this particularly interesting, as modern trainers overwhelmingly assure us that it is “impossible” to be any kind of high-performance athlete without lots and lots and lots of carbohydrates. Apparently the Greeks didn’t think that at all and recommended abstaining from bread for six months prior to any serious competition. Interestingly, the Greeks also didn’t think it was normal for someone to be a sobbing, shaking, emotional mess by the end of a race, either: something we think perfectly normal.
Stuff and Bother
It was the year my Aunt Clara went to visit her cousin. Now, her cousin was not only gifted on the glockenspiel, but being a screech owl, also sang soprano in the London Opera.
–Owl
The long silence has been due to illness. I got the flu and it was just too much to blog while living the rest of life. The main problem was not the illness per se, but all the pollution that greatly exacerbates the breathing difficulties of any illness that affects the respiratory system.
However other than having difficulty breathing, which is related to air quality, this illness was not nearly as bad as it used to be.
This is one of the benefits of living a life without refined flours and sugars: better health in general. You don’t get as sick as often, and generally when you do get sick it isn’t as debilitating or as lengthy. We all understand here that I’m talking about common illnesses, right? I can’t say what will happen if you go get malaria, tuberculosis, or polio.
Continue reading Stuff and Bother
Ask Me How It Happened 